Medical thoracoscopy for the treatment of complicated hepatic hydrothorax

Abstract

Hepatic hydrothorax is a complication of liver cirrhosis. Several invasive therapeutic approaches have been performed such as thoracentesis, video-assisted thoracic surgery and repair of the diaphragmatic defects with debatable results. Medical thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive and effective technique with challenging applications that has not been thoroughly used in the treatment of hepatic hydrothorax. We hereby present the case of a hepatic hydrothorax complicated by thoracic empyema in a 38-year-old patient with alcoholic cirrhosis that was treated with medical thoracoscopy and talc pleurodesis.